RayeCarol Cavender, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Retailing and Tourism Management (RTM) at the University of Kentucky (UK). She holds a B.S. in Merchandising Management with a minor in Spanish from Virginia Tech, an M.S. in Consumer Affairs with a minor in International Studies from Auburn University, and a Ph.D. in Apparel Business from Virginia Tech. She also has extensive experience in the hotel and restaurant industries. At UK, Dr. Cavender teaches courses in merchandising, apparel, and textiles. Her major research interests include the brand management of luxury fashion goods, sustainable development in the retail sector, and pedagogical best practices for 1) fostering DEI&A, 2) education abroad and facilitating transformational travel experiences, and 3) soft skill development. Dr. Cavender also has expertise in course design and development for both the face-to-face and online environment, along with significant experience leading student-focused experiential learning (e.g., education abroad, internships, student-focused conferences)